« Shouting in the Datacenter | Home
Installing Windows 7 on Virtual Box Part 1
By admin | January 13, 2009
This is a tutorial explaining how to install Windows 7 Beta Build 7000 (the beta now available from microsoft) on Virtual Box. This video is split up into 3 parts. The installation took about 30 minutes.
Q&A:
What operating system/program did you make this video on?
Screenflow on Mac OSX.
Why did you set the operating system to Windows Server 2008?
If you don’t set it to server 2008, it won’t resgister the mouse keys working.
Why did you set the ram to 600 mb instead of the suggested 256mb?
The first time I tried to make the video, the install told me the minimum ram allowed for the install was I believe 556, so I had to redoo it.
How big is the disk image for Windows 7?
About 2.5 GB.
Where can I find the disk image for Windows 7?
Here is the current link from Microsoft: http://download.microsoft.com/download/6/3/3/633118BD-6C3D-45A4-B985-F0FDFFE1B021/EN/7000.0.081212-1400_client_en-us_Ultimate-GB1CULFRE_EN_DVD.iso
(This is the 32-bit English version; for more installation options register for the beta on Microsoft’s website)
What version/build is this?
This is Windows 7 Ultimate Build 7000.
Why didn’t you worry about the serial?
The copy of Windows 7 I downloaded wasn’t with Microsoft, I downloaded the disk image (the same one that is now available from Microsoft; the 32-bit version in English), off of a torrent website. To get a working serial, you will still have to sign up for the beta. Once you sign up, you will be sent an activation Email, you will click the activation link, click continue, and you will see a serial and a download button. The serial you will be given is a working serial. It can be used to register UP TO 3 computers.
Where can I download virtual box?
You can download it at http://www.virutalbox.org/
How do you go full screen and back on Virtual Box?
Mac: command+f
PC: I believe crtl+f
Linux: host key+f
Why do you keep panning around? Isn’t the resolution set to your monitor?
My monitor’s set to 800×600 and the install is by default larger I’m assuming so I have to scroll. Once the install is finished, you can set the resolution to whatever inside virtual box using the preferences.
Topics: Disk Imaging |
January 13th, 2009 at 7:54 am
If you’re refering to the files currently on your hard drive, no you won’t. That’s the purpose of the virtual hard drive. It stores the files of the new operating system in a folder used by Virtual Box.
January 13th, 2009 at 7:54 am
If I install now with the new harddisk (image) will I lose any files?
January 13th, 2009 at 7:54 am
Do I lose all my files when I press the “not upgrade button (forgot the name)” (using Virtual box?
January 13th, 2009 at 7:54 am
I’ll try and see what happens.
January 13th, 2009 at 7:54 am
Looking at the installation of virtual box, it seems you can choose a hard disk from any location on your computer AFTER is puts it in the installation folder that virtual box uses. In theory, I would assume you’d need to put the folder virtual box uses in the D: drive and then it would put the hard disks in that folder. I may be wrong.
January 13th, 2009 at 7:54 am
You can choose where to place it, ie D: drive, right?
January 13th, 2009 at 7:54 am
I’m pretty sure the C drive. I’ve not used virtual box on a windows computer because my laptop can’t hand the program. However, on Mac is sticks it right in the operating system library (which is essentially the C drive).
January 13th, 2009 at 7:54 am
One other thing, though. I have 39.7 gb free on DATA (D: Drive) and 19.3 gb free on VistaOs (C: drive). Now where does the virtual drive get thrown?
January 13th, 2009 at 7:54 am
No problem!
January 13th, 2009 at 7:54 am
Thanks for the quick reply. I’m just downloading the Windows 7 beta now, so I’ll see how things go. Thanks, again.
January 13th, 2009 at 7:54 am
Simple enough. You select the OS in the left pane that lists all of the virtual operating systems and delete that with the delete button. You then go to file > virtual disk manager (command + d on mac), go to the hard disks tab, select the windows 7 hard disk and click the remove button.
January 13th, 2009 at 7:54 am
Just before I actually try what you have done, I have one question. How do you uninstall Windows 7 and the virtual drive?
January 13th, 2009 at 7:54 am
Yes, it does take up space on the existing partition.
January 13th, 2009 at 7:54 am
thanks man awesome
January 13th, 2009 at 7:54 am
thank you, very informative. I do have a question, with the HD does it take up space on an exiting partition?